HOOSICK, N.Y. — The Hoosick Falls girls soccer team comes into the 2017 season with a solid senior core, a group that will have to play to its potential if the Panthers are going to contend for a Wasaren League championship.

Six seniors lead the team, including the top three scorers last season — Darian Morgan, Taylor Mann and Angela Gonzalez — who combined for 38 goals. Morgan led the way with 18.

"We'll score goals and if the defense can play like we did in the scrimmage against [Burr and Burton], I think we did a nice job containing them," said Hoosick coach Tom Husser, who is entering his 15th season.

The other seniors include Allison Perry, Sam Flohr and Sydney Eggsware, a defender that Husser said is one of the top in the entire Wasaren League.

"There's a lot of senior leadership, they really get along," Husser said. "There's been a lot of team bonding. The seniors want to go out winning their last game, so that leadership even goes down to the JV kids. They've been so encouraging, it makes it fun to come to practice every day."

Hoosick Falls had a good season in 2016, going 11-5-3 and winning the opening round playoff game against Cobleskill before a loss to eventual Class B runner-up Catholic Central.

Husser said that his defense could be strong as well.

"We tried something new during the scrimmage, having four back on defense," Husser said. "Along with Syd, we have Olivia Brownell back there for the first time, who looked pretty good, and Grace Wysocki, who was a starter last year."

Some of the younger players in age still have a good amount of experience, including Skyelyn Haynes, Josie Ryan, Kylei Ruebel and Phoebe Thompson.

"Josie has stepped up in the middle of the field with Angela and Kylei and Phoebe are only freshman who played as eighth graders. I'm looking forward to see how it goes with them," Husser said.

In goal, Maddie Yeung moves up from the JV to take over for Sydney Miller.

"Maddie did a real nice job in goal during the scrimmage," Husser said. "Maddie was the JV goalie last year, and JV shots are not the same as varsity shots. But she's getting better and better."

The Panthers begin their season tonight at 7 p.m. against Tamarac under the lights on Ken Baker Field.

TALK TO US

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please
email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by
filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.